Several days had passed since Surgal's capture, and Daniel's world finally became a little more... peaceful.
During mornings and afternoons, Daniel spent his time walking around the city with his girlfriends: Tamamo, Reynare, Hikari, Hibiki, Alya, and Sakura. They visited shopping malls, snow-covered parks, themed cafes, and movie theaters. Between jokes, furtive kisses, and intertwined hands, the couple's routine became part of their daily life... though saying "couple" might fall short of describing Daniel Hernández's official harem.
Thanks to the cooperation in capturing Surgal, Grigori's leader, Azazel, didn't waste time showing his gratitude. The day after the confrontation, he sent Daniel a considerable sum of money. However, that same day, Azazel made it clear in a message:
> "This is nothing, kid. Tomorrow you'll receive something more... interesting. P.S.: Try not to have a heart attack."
Daniel assumed it was a joke. Knowing Azazel, he could expect anything from a box of snakes to a surprise party with strippers disguised as devils.
But it was none of that.
Waking up the following morning, Daniel opened his eyes... and didn't recognize the ceiling.
The room was no longer a typical foreign student's room: it now had polished wooden floors, a king-size canopy bed, huge windows with elegant curtains, a mahogany desk, and even a state-of-the-art plasma TV with consoles and shelves full of video games and books. Looking out the window, the surprise was even greater.
What was once a simple two-story house was now a modern Japanese mansion mixed with classic elements: internal gardens, wide corridors, five bedrooms, a training room, an onsen-style bath, an industrial kitchen, a magical cellar (literally), and even a library with its own reading nook.
Daniel stood motionless for a few seconds, until his phone vibrated with a new message.
> "Welcome to your new home. It's already in your name. You can live here as long as you want and bring your family whenever you like. Consider this fair payment. —Azazel (P.S.: I owe you a barbecue)"
Daniel could only let out a low laugh, and looking around, he saw Tamamo still asleep beside him, with a satisfied smile, curled up like a cat.
—...This definitely exceeds my expectations.
That morning he spent exploring the mansion's corners with his girlfriends, who were surprised one by one upon waking. Hibiki and Hikari screamed with excitement in the entertainment room, Alya had already taken control of the library with a "this is mine" face, Sakura was organizing the kitchen with her usual efficiency, and Reynare... simply clung to Daniel all day with a bright smile.
At night, the routine changed. During the Dark Hour, only Daniel and Tamamo could move freely without turning into coffins. Both accompanied the SEES team in exploring Tartarus. So far, only Mitsuru, Yukari, and Akihiko were active members; Junpei hadn't joined yet.
Although Daniel and Tamamo couldn't use Personas, their supernatural abilities made them formidable in combat. The Shadows were nothing more than passing obstacles in their path, and Daniel had already grown accustomed to the oppressive environment of Tartarus. Tamamo, being a Servant, seemed to enjoy the action even in that place.
SEES, for its part, was adapting little by little. They used strategy over brute force, covering each other while Tamamo and Daniel cleared the way effectively. After a week of daily expeditions, they had reached the 67th floor, an impressive achievement considering they had just started.
And although in combat Mitsuru remained the firm and focused commander, during breaks... something about her was beginning to change.
—Daniel, would you like some tea? I brought it from home — she asked softly one night, offering him a thermos cup.
—Ah, thanks Mitsuru. That's so thoughtful.
—If you're cold... I can lend you my coat. — she added on another occasion, just as Daniel sat down to review the map of the explored floors.
Yukari frowned seeing her sit next to Daniel.
—What is she doing? — she whispered to herself.
Tamamo, sitting on the other side of Daniel, simply drank her own tea with a smile on her lips.
—Ufufu~, Commander Kirijo has fallen. Another flower for the garden.
And so, without realizing it, Daniel kept stealing hearts as he walked through the endless floors of Tartarus... never imagining that the very mansion he was given, with its wide corridors and multiple rooms, would become very, very small if he kept accumulating admirers.
Another quiet afternoon fell over the SEES dorms. The atmosphere was serene, barely disturbed by the sounds of turning pages and the occasional distant murmur of footsteps in the halls. In one of the rooms, Yukari sat on her bed, flipping through a magazine, but her mind was far away.
For several days, she couldn't stop noticing Mitsuru's strange behavior. During expeditions to Tartarus, she was the same cold, precise commander as always. But outside of combat... she was a different person. Softer. More attentive. Especially with Daniel.
Yukari wasn't someone particularly gossipy, but curiosity was starting to burn inside her.
So, taking a deep breath, she decided to ask directly.
—Hey, Mitsuru... — she said from her bed, getting her attention.
The redhead looked up from the book she was reading and raised an eyebrow elegantly.
—Yes?
—I've noticed... you've been acting differently. Especially with Daniel. — Yukari closed the magazine and set it aside—. Did something happen that you haven't told us about?
For a moment, Mitsuru seemed ready to deny it. Her lips tightened, and the silence grew thick. But then she remembered her father, Takeharu Kirijo's words after everything that had happened: "You should trust your comrades more. Open your heart, even if just a little."
And at that moment, for the first time in a long time, Mitsuru decided to trust.
—Yes... something happened. — she finally said, closing her book and letting out a small sigh—. Something that changed a lot of things.
And without beating around the bush, Mitsuru began to tell.
She spoke about how her father discovered infiltrators within the Kirijo Group, people without a past, without real records... undercover members of the supernatural world. She explained how, with the help of Daniel and Reynare, they revealed that many of them were linked to Kokabiel, a fallen angel obsessed with reviving the holy war and provoking the Fall to face Nyx.
—Nyx...? — Yukari murmured, shivers running down her spine.
Mitsuru nodded, serious.
Then she explained that her fiancé, the one she was engaged to by family agreement, turned out to be none other than Kokabiel's right-hand man, an infiltrator who sought to marry her to gain power within the Kirijo Group. And she also told how it was Daniel who, along with Tamamo, Hikari, Hibiki, and Reynare, set a trap to make him confess... and then face him in battle.
—Daniel fought him? — Yukari asked, now frankly incredulous.
—Yes. And he surpassed him. — Mitsuru smiled with a mix of respect and admiration—. But what struck me most wasn't his strength... but his decision.
And then she recounted how, after all that, her father offered Mitsuru's hand in marriage to Daniel as a token of gratitude.
And how Daniel... refused.
—He said he didn't love me, that he didn't want to force me into a loveless engagement, that I deserved to choose. — Mitsuru lowered her gaze a little, as if that simple phrase still made her heart beat strongly.
Yukari was stunned.
In her head, Daniel was a first-class womanizer. Yes, clearly he forced nothing, and his relationships with Tamamo, Reynare, Alya, Sakura, Hikari, and Hibiki were consensual and harmonious... but still, Yukari had pigeonholed him.
—...I never thought someone like you... would fall for someone like him. — Yukari murmured honestly.
Mitsuru let out a soft, closed laugh, but with warmth.
—Neither did I. — she admitted—. But after seeing his way of thinking, of acting... of respecting me even when he could have won me as a trophy... I couldn't help it.
Yukari fell silent. Daniel's face appeared in her mind, along with his silly jokes, his relaxed attitude, and that confidence with which he treated everyone... even the Shadows.
—Is it really... normal to have so many romances in the supernatural world?
—Yes. — Mitsuru nodded calmly—. Harems are part of supernatural culture. They are consensual, and in many cases, strategic. It's not like in our world, where it's seen as infidelity or a sin. Here... it's part of their social structure.
—Then... can a woman also have a harem?
—Of course. Although it's more common for men to have them. But there are cases of women with multiple husbands or partners. It all depends on power, mutual respect... and feelings.
Yukari pressed her lips together. She still struggled to accept that reality. Although she understood they were different norms, she still had a human mindset embedded in her heart.
—I guess... I'll have to get used to it. Even if I don't like it.
Mitsuru looked at her with a faint smile.
—You don't have to accept it immediately. Just understand the world is no longer as before. We're coexisting with beings that break our rules. And if we want to survive... we must adapt.
Yukari nodded slowly, still conflicted, but understanding something she hadn't seen before: Daniel wasn't simply a womanizer. He was someone who valued people, who forced no one, and who even... could give something up if he felt it wasn't right.
And deep down, something in Yukari also began to change.
Another day dawned in Kuoh, and while the city breathed tranquility amid the winter break, one particular room was a battlefield... emotional.
There she was: Tohsaka Rin, renowned mage, genius of mystical arts, former participant in the Holy Grail War... and right now, a zombie with dark circles under her eyes.
—Why can't I sleep?! — she shouted, tossing and turning in her futon, surrounded by open books, half-empty teacups, and a Kyubey plushie with needles stuck in it.
She had tried EVERYTHING: relaxation spells, sleep runes, zen meditation, magical yoga, counting sheep, counting Mystic Prisms... Nothing worked!
Every time she closed her eyes...
His face appeared.
That idiot's face.
Daniel.
—Ughhh, stupid womanizer with a stupid smile and stupid eyes and perfectly messy hair! — she yelled, throwing a pillow at the ceiling. The pillow bounced and landed on her—. And why the hell does he smell good in the middle of a fight?! That's unnatural!
Rin tugged at her ponytail in desperation, then hugged herself and sank under the blankets.
The house was a mess. With Sona and Rias away — who were visiting the Underworld — Rin thought she'd finally have peace. Time to study, practice magic, maybe catch up on some video games or light novels...
But no.
Now she was trapped in a romantic mental prison.
Sometimes, she found herself smiling like a fool while drinking tea and remembering the times Daniel defended her, or when he winked at her after training. Then she'd realize and...
—NO, NO, NO, NOOO!! I'm not interested! I am Tohsaka Rin! One of the most talented magi in the Association! I am NOT going to fall for a damn womanizer with more girlfriends than common sense!
And yet, there she was.
Thinking about him. Dreaming about him.
She sometimes even caught herself writing his name in the margins of her notes. Like a schoolgirl!
—This cannot be happening to me! — she exclaimed dramatically, falling to her knees before the mirror—. I'm a Tohsaka! Not a secondary school girl from a romantic anime!
The rest of the holiday days continued similarly.
In the morning, Rin walked around Kuoh with a sour face and giant sunglasses.
In the afternoon, she stared out the window with a cup of tea while sighing like a telenovela character.
At night... she mentally replayed her interactions with Daniel and squealed into her pillows as if she were a normal teenager.
Even her familiar, a small spiritual fox, watched her from a corner with a resigned expression.
—You're going to judge me too?
The fox nodded slowly.
And so, between denials, squeals, moments of involuntary tenderness, and a growing collection of teacups broken out of frustration... Tohsaka Rin spent her holidays, prisoner of the worst spell of all:
Being in love with an incorrigible womanizer.
The end of the winter holidays was approaching, and Daniel, along with all his girlfriends, planned a worthy year-end celebration. Each one had organized a special, intimate, and unique date, something that represented their bond with him.
Alya took him to a winter light park, where she surprised him with her tenderness and sensitivity.
Sakura opted for a private picnic on a hilltop, under a sky full of stars.
Tamamo, always flirtatious and charming, took him to a Shinto shrine where they prayed for the future... before stealing a kiss in front of all the statues.
Reynare took him on a nighttime stroll through the illuminated city, remembering her past and being thankful for her present.
Hikari and Hibiki, inseparable, shared their day with him at a private karaoke, full of laughter, musical challenges, and shared hugs.
During all these dates, Daniel was authentic, attentive, affectionate, showing each one that his feelings were real. It wasn't just desire, it was love, connection, complicity.
And so came December 31st.
He thought it would be a quiet night. But he hadn't counted on what the girls had planned.
That day, they all gathered in his room. Each wore an outfit chosen especially for him: seductive, elegant, sensual... too much to ignore. They surrounded him, their mischievous laughter filling the air as they gave him suggestive looks.
Ddraig, in his head, issued a warning laced with humor:
—Partner, your chastity is in danger! This is an ambush of ancestral dragon level, I'm telling you... and I'm dead.
Daniel just smiled. He wasn't going to run.
When soft caresses began, when gazes grew intense and whispers spoke directly to his soul... his instinct awoke.
The power of his lineage, that of a dragon who loves with body and heart, surged forth. His aura changed. His gaze became deep, his voice low, his movements confident. And they felt it.
Even as a group, none were a match for the ardor of a dragon in love.
The laughter turned into muffled moans, bodies fell one by one, spent in his arms, exhausted but happy, with full smiles, marked by a fierce and genuine affection.
Reynare, due to her fallen angel nature, held out longer than the others, but even she succumbed to her beloved's overflowing desire.
And only when they were all asleep, intertwined among the sheets, their bodies barely covered by the gloom and the warmth of the room, did Daniel come back to himself.
—I might have gone a bit overboard... — he murmured with a sigh as he gently arranged the strands of hair covering Tamamo's face.
Ddraig snorted.
—A bit, he says... You're crazier than Albion. But at least you made them smile.
Daniel looked around. At all of them. And smiled.
It was the end of the year, but the beginning of something even more powerful.
The first day of the New Year dawned with an almost heavenly peace... though Daniel's room looked more like a post-apocalyptic war zone than a romantic bedroom.
The sheets were everywhere, some clothing hung from the lamp, and the air was still charged with a faint sweet, warm scent. But the true victims of the previous night were scattered across the bed like rag dolls: Reynare, Tamamo, Alya, Sakura, Hikari, and Hibiki, all sleeping deeply, with dreamy smiles and visible marks of the effort... and the affection received.
They didn't wake until well past noon.
—Nghh... What time is it...? — Hibiki mumbled, barely lifting her head.
—My back... my wings... everything hurts... — Reynare groaned, covering herself with the sheet.
That's when they noticed something else: Daniel wasn't in bed.
But he soon appeared. The door opened softly, and Daniel entered with a tray in each hand and a radiant smile on his face. On the trays was freshly made food: tamagoyaki, rice, fruit, sweet rolls, natural juices, and hot tea.
—Good morning, sleepyheads! Or should I say "good afternoon"? — he said, in a tone both teasing and tender.
—Daniel! — several shouted in unison, some with a blush of embarrassment and others with feigned indignation.
Tamamo was the first to scold him.
—I told you not to lose control so much! You left us all out of commission!
—I can't walk! — Alya protested, arms crossed, pouting.
Daniel carefully set down the trays and crossed his arms with a raised eyebrow.
—Sorry, *I* was the culprit? You guys were the ones who set a trap for me! The outfits, the looks, the whispers, the caresses... Not even Ddraig could save me!
Ddraig, from his prison in the gauntlet, spoke in the background with a dramatic tone:
—I warned him. No one listened. This is the result of underestimating a dragon with pent-up emotions...
The girls let out a laugh mixed with gasps and complaints, and ended up pouting in unison, demanding affection as compensation.
—Cuddles.
—Kisses.
—Carry us like princesses, even if we can't move.
—And a massage!
Daniel laughed, defeated by his little army of pampered girlfriends, and began kissing them one by one, caressing them tenderly, arranging pillows, and carefully pouring juice. He even made sure to give Hibiki soft tickles to cheer her up, which elicited a weak but happy laugh.
After a while of cuddles, food, and rest in their beloved's arms, the atmosphere calmed down.
—We have one more week of vacation — Daniel murmured while stroking Tamamo's hair—. We have to make the most of it.
The girls nodded. They had to prepare for the return to school, of course... but also, to keep exploring Tartarus each night.
The New Year had begun. And with it, new battles, new mysteries... and new moments of love.
The last week of vacation was a perfect mix of calm, intensity, and conflicting emotions. A time of rest... and discovery.
Daniel's girlfriends were closer than ever. Reynare, Tamamo, Alya, Sakura, Hikari, and Hibiki not only constantly surrounded him, but every gesture of his toward them seemed to carry more affection than before. After that intimate night, the bonds between them had tightened even more, and the atmosphere within the group was one of absolute complicity.
While the sun shone on Kuoh and days passed with dates, strolls, and shared meals, the nights belonged to the darkness of Tartarus.
Each night, Daniel and Tamamo joined SEES to delve into the depths of the labyrinth, exploring floor after floor without rest. With Akihiko, Yukari, and Mitsuru as the only active members of the group so far, the team was limited, but the synergy between Daniel and Tamamo, added to Mitsuru's strength and Akihiko's fighting spirit, allowed them to advance steadily.
As the days passed, Mitsuru became more open with Daniel. Not just out of gratitude, but out of genuine interest: she wanted to know him better. She wanted to understand his strength, his history, his way of thinking... and without realizing it, she began to smile more when he spoke. She asked about his interests, his tastes, even invited him for tea between expeditions, a gesture that went unnoticed by no one.
Yukari, for her part, watched everything with growing curiosity. She didn't understand why someone like Daniel — with his relaxed air, his shameless attitude, and his life surrounded by girls — could have so many women so loyal to him. She tried to analyze every action, every word, every expression of the boy... without yet accepting that she had started to become more interested than she believed.
Each night in Tartarus, Daniel not only fought Shadows but also the mysteries of that place. They had already reached the 89th floor. The Shadows were more aggressive, the challenges more complex, and the pressure more intense.
—Only eleven more floors to 100 — Mitsuru murmured one night while leaning on her sword—. Whatever is there... it's getting closer.
Daniel nodded. He felt it too.
The end of the holidays was just around the corner, but no one let their guard down. Despite the romantic moments, the laughter, and the sweet days, the darkness of Tartarus never rested.
And neither would they.